Euphoria HBO Review
Heyy everyone,
I just wanted to write this post about a relatively new series called Euphoria which was released on HBO in 2019. I've been meaning to watch this series for so long as I've heard nothing but good things. I'm not gonna lie, I watched this in two sittings and could have easily watched in one but I didn't want it to be over so soon. All I can say is it is an utterly amazing series and is so well thought out.
Euphoria represents LGBTQ, Mental Health, Addiction, Good & Bad vibes of Social Media, Positives of the Pornography industry and so much more in such a synced and beautiful way. BTW, if you're planning on watching this series, I'd stop reading now as I am going to speak about characters and how they relate to the series and it is so much better going into the series not knowing anything at all rather than having some ideas about what happens and who characters are because it really will ruin it.
I just wanted to write this post about a relatively new series called Euphoria which was released on HBO in 2019. I've been meaning to watch this series for so long as I've heard nothing but good things. I'm not gonna lie, I watched this in two sittings and could have easily watched in one but I didn't want it to be over so soon. All I can say is it is an utterly amazing series and is so well thought out.
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| Image from IMDb |
Addiction
So, I thought it would be best to start with the main character, Rue played by Zendaya. When I first heard that Zendaya was playing a lead role in a series based on a spectrum on LGBTQ I knew I needed to watch it, she really is a fashion icon. Anyways, she plays a character called Rue, who is struggling to battle her drug addiction and recently came out of rehab. In the show it sees Rue battle many instances interfering with drugs, but ultimately she really does try to stop. This roles nicely into her relationship with Jules.
Mental Health
Addiction flows really well to mental health, as there are a few instances in the show where mental health is portrayed, firstly with Nate and his anger issues and instances where he lashes out, hurting Maddy on a few occasions (portraying domestic abuse), which have clearly come from seeing his dad having affairs with individuals from the LGBTQ community, including Rue's best friend Jules. He follows on to blackmail Jules and catfish her, which shows a strong representation of what young people struggle with in the age of social media dominance.
Another way mental health is portrayed in Euphoria is depression. This is portrayed in two different characters, in Rue and Jules. Rue forms depression later in the series when she can't even move from her bed and is hospitalised for this. It could be suggested that Rue has struggled with depression throughout her addiction to drugs which may be why she takes them. Jules portrays this in a flashback to when she was institutionalised by her mother before she transitioned, and her troubles caused her to self-harm, which also occurs when at a party and is confronted by a drunk Nate.
LGBTQ
I am so in love with the representative LQBTQ nature. We first off find out that Jules is transgender and is using a Gay dating app to 'hook up' and communicate with guys. She meets an older guy, and it later comes out that is Nate's dad. Nate then catfishes Jules after speaking to her on the same app as his dad did, and he has mixed feelings for Jules. They represent a spectrum of sexuality, we can get the sense that Nate both loves and hates Jules, because of his dad but also because of the kind nature Jules has.
Rue also questions her sexuality when falling in love with her best friend Jules, it is such a lovely concept but also doesn't help her addiction and mental health when the feelings aren't reacted upon in the way she hopes, but towards the end of the series, Jules meets a girl and they have relations, it is then when she realises her feelings for Rue and acts upon these.
Pornography industry and Body Positivity
Although the pornography industry has a 'dirty' stereotype of the porn industry with platforms like Onlyfans being widely used by young people as a form of making money.. and always seeing in the media how situations like this come back to people in the future like Kim Kardashian. Kat plays a great role in the series, she is one of the plus size characters in the series and she lacks confidence in the beginning. At a party she hooks up with a guy, who videos this and leaks it online. She finds out and is distraught, as everyone knew it was her but no one could prove it. After looking through comments, she realises people actually like her and think she is sexy, something which she didn't think she was herself. She starts earning money by getting Skype 'Sugar Daddies' where she 'dominates' over them. Through this she finds a new found confidence and becomes a strong character through her makeup and fashion sense giving a strong gothic look showing her female independence.
Fashion and Beauty
Fashion isn't the biggest aspects of Euphoria, although it does trickle down throughout some characters, mainly through Jules, Maddy and Kat. Kat is probably the main character who has a major makeover throughout the series, going from a geeky looking girl to a black-leather enthusiast. Maddy seems to be your obvious 'Pretty Little Thing' fangirl, with her track suits and dresses. Jules may me more inexperienced with teens style due to her transition, therefore she dresses more 'cute' than the others, with unicorn bags and rainbow coloured clothes (this could also be a sign of her supporting Gay Pride).
Makeup is used wisely throughout the series, Jules uses multicoloured makeup and quite quirky but also exaggerated looks. Rue doesn't wear heaps of makeup but lets Jules do some looks on her which are subtle but look really nice. To go with Kat's new look, she uses light foundation and dark eye and lip makeup to extend the look from just her clothes and also dyes her hair darker, this makes her seem more rebellious. Maddy uses gems, pearls and sequins often in her eye makeup looks and even in her hair.
Here is a link where you can buy the clothes which are worn throughout the series!
https://www.shopyourtv.com/euphoria/
Make sure to read my post on top 10 Binge-worthy programmes!
Makeup is used wisely throughout the series, Jules uses multicoloured makeup and quite quirky but also exaggerated looks. Rue doesn't wear heaps of makeup but lets Jules do some looks on her which are subtle but look really nice. To go with Kat's new look, she uses light foundation and dark eye and lip makeup to extend the look from just her clothes and also dyes her hair darker, this makes her seem more rebellious. Maddy uses gems, pearls and sequins often in her eye makeup looks and even in her hair.
Here is a link where you can buy the clothes which are worn throughout the series!
https://www.shopyourtv.com/euphoria/
Make sure to read my post on top 10 Binge-worthy programmes!
10 Binge-worthy Programmes by Mitch
Image Sources:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772296/
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